Endless driving belt for spinning machines



July 28, 1959 w. A. mam/0N ENDLESS DRIVING BELT FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed April 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILL MM ARNOLD AWm/V ATTJRNEKS' July 28, 1959 w AAAAAA ON 2,896,396

' .JNVENTOR. WILL/AM 40/040 Kan/you drivel/Eff United tates tent ENDLESS DRIVING BELT FOR SPINNING MACHINES William Arnold Kenyon, Woodley, England, assignor to William Kenyon 8: Sons Inc., Perth Amhoy, NJL, a corporation of- New Jersey Application April 20, 1955, Serial No. 502,657

r Claims. (Cl. 57-104) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 371,021 filed July 29, 1953, for Endless Driving Belts, now Patent No. 2,765,837.

This invention concerns endless driving belts and is restricted to such driving belts made from tape consisting wholly or largely of a spun synthetic polyamide.

Hitherto, such endless driving belts, particularly for use in spinning and doubling frames, have largely been made from spun natural fibre material, such as cotton, although belts made from synthetic spun material have been used. In both cases, difficulty has been experienced in effecting an efiicient joint and various methods of attachment have been tried. Attaching and securing by stitching and by various types of clip have chiefly been used, although various adhesives have also been tried. All prior methods of attachment, however, have sutiered from one or more of a number of disadvantages. For instance, the joint has usually been the Weakest part of the complete belt and distortion and lack of flexibility has been experienced in the area of attachment. In addition, the prior methods have taken a considerable amount of time to put into eifect with consequent loss of productive efiiciency.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of forming an endless driving belt from a tape consisting wholly or largely of a spun synthetic polyamide, especially nylon, the method and the resultant belt overcoming the above disadvantages.

According to the present invention a method of forming an endless driving belt from a tape consisting wholly or largely of a spun synthetic polyamide, especially nylon, consists in forming a joint by overlapping, introducing between the adjacent layers of the overlap a strip of synthetic polyamide of the same or a similar nature to that of the tape but having a materially lower melting point and capable, on fusion of bonding therewith, and applying heat and pressure to the joint until the strip fuses to form a bond between the layers. This method of forming the belt can be carried out at a very high speed and can be easily performed on site.

The invention also includes a belt when made by such a method. Such a belt has been found to have the unexpected and highly desirable characteristic that it is strongest at the joint. Further, the joint has been found to be highly flexible and gives rise to no material distortion of the belt which could adversely effect its running etficiency. In addition, the belt has a long life and can be run at high speeds.

The invention also includes the belt used in a spinning or doubling frame.

The invention also includes a machine for carrying out the above method including a thermostatically controlled heated press, having a visual signal adapted to indicate the desired period of press action, and a cold press.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows one form of overlapped joint according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a second form of joint,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a machine suitable for making the said joints,

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing a conventional spin ning machine included in the invention in combination with the driving belt herein described.

In one practical application of the invention an endless driving belt 10 is formed from a length of spun nylon tape, or a tape which is largely of spun nylon but may include a small proportion of spun natural fibre material,

such as cotton, of /1 inch width. For effecting a bond there is provided a strip of nylon 11, either cast or extruded, which is made from low melting nylon poly-' amides of lower melting point than that of the tape and capable of fusion or bonding therewith. This strip is approximately 0.004 inch thick and of slightly greater width than the tape 10 to be bonded, and for normal purposes is about 2 /2 inches long.

For forming the joint a machine (see Fig. 3) having two pedally operated presses 12, 13 is provided. The platens 14, 15 of the first press 12 are electrically heated and thermostatically controlled, and a visual indicator 16 on the machine is adapted to give a signal after the ex piry of the desired period of press operation. The press is arranged so that a pressure of several pounds weight can be applied to the material between the platens. The second pedally operated press 13 is smaller than the press 12, and can be applied to the material between its platens 17, 18.

The fusing temperature of the nylon strip 11 must be less than the temperature at which the nylon tape 10 would be substantially degraded. In the particular example being described the temperature at which the nylon strip 11 melts is approximately 180 C. whilst the temperature at which the nylon tape 10 would be substantially degraded when applied for the period required is over 230 C.

The first step in carrying out the method according to the invention is to prepare a joint by overlapping the two free ends of the length of tape 10 by about 3 inches and by placing the strip of nylon 11 between the overlapping ends, as shown in Fig. 1. The nylon strip 11 should protrude from the overlapping layers by about a milimetre at each end. A modified joint could serve equally well, for instance a joint formed by abutting the ends of the tape 10 and applying thereto a separate piece 19 of tape overlapping the abutting ends as shown in Fig. 2.

Holding the joint between the first finger and thumb of each hand it is then introduced between a pair of small extensions 20, 21 provided on the platens 14, 15 of the heated press 12 and the press is operated until the joint is tacked over a small area thereof, to prevent the layers moving on introduction beneath the platens proper of the heated press. The joint is then placed in position beneath the platens l4, 15 of the heated press, which wholly cover the joint, and the press operated. A suitable press temperature is about 200" C. Pressure is maintained for a suitable time which varies according to the heat transfer properties of the actual tape being used but which, in most cases, will lie between 30 and seconds. In the example being described the period was 60 seconds. The visual indicator 16 will signal the expiry of the required period, whereupon the press platens 14, 15 are opened and the tape removed. It will be found that a bond of every high strength has been formed at the joint. It is then desirable immediately to introduce the newly formed joint between the platens 17, 18 of the cold press 13 and to apply pressure for a few seconds thereto.

The thickness of the joint is initially equal to twice the thicknessof the tape 10, but after use this is found to be reduced, particularly at the ends of the joint.

In use, the belt is applied' to a conventional spinning frame in place. of the prior art belts where it passes around a pair of spindles and extends to the drivingmeans.

In Fig. 4 such a spinning frame is shown somewhat schematically. It. has the supporting members 22 on which the spindles 23 are rotatably mounted. These spindles.- are provided with whorls or driving pulleys 24 which are driven by the belt which extends aroundthe spindles in pairs as illustrated and around a driving cylinder 25 which provides the power for turning the spindles. The )belt is tensioned by a tensioning member 26'which is provided with a. suitable weight 27. In practice these spindles are rotated to twist the yarn as it is fed to them in a conventional manner not shown. The driving speed may vary from approximately 3,000 rpm. to 11,000 r.p.rn.

When the belt is initially. installed on the machine, the portion at the point has slightly greater stiffness than the rest of the belt. However, the initial stilfnessdisappears after the first few revolutions of the spindle and the belt becomes substantially uniform throughout its entire length and remains in this uniform flexibility from then on.

When the spindles of a spinning machine are operated through the medium of this belt the optimum spindle speed may be increased, because the average spindle speed is: increased by as much as 3.2%.

Likewise, improved results are obtained because variations in spindle speed are reduced. They are in some in stances reduced by as much as 80% and are on the average reduced about The increase in average spindle speed is due in great measure to the smoothness of the running of the belt on the spindles and to the reduction of breakages brought about by the greater smoothness of running.

The smoothness of drive and the elimination of variations in spindle speed also give a consistency of twist imparted to the yarn which is of material importance to the operator of a spinning machine.

The increase in optimum speed results from the unexpected increase in spindle speed and reduction in variation in spindle speed. With the increase in speed of the spindles it has been found desirable to increase the takeolf speed. This is important to maintain the uniform twist; Thus with the increased speed and the decreased variations the take-01f speed is increased giving greater production, to an extent not predictable from known factors.

It has also been found that power savings result from the useof these driveson spinning machines. Power savings from 6% to 20% are eflected, using this combination of the new belt with the spindles in the spinning machine.

It has likewise been found that there is less tendency for the belt to stretch than was the case with the prior art belts. Thus the continuous speed loss resulting from stretching of cotton belts is eliminated. Furthermore, it is possible utilizing this belt to make use of thinner tape giving increased flexibility and improved driving of the spindles.

The operative life of a tape made according to the example described is thought to be many times that of old types of belts and at least twice that of a similar nylon belt joined in the conventional manner of stitching or clipping. It is also thought, due to the smoother running and greater flexibility of the joint that an increase of from 1% to 6% in spinning and doubling efiiciency will be achieved, together with a much greater regularity of twist, greatly increasing the quality of the yarns being spun or doubled.

I claim:

1. In a spinning machine having a spindle and a drive therefor, a spindle driving belt comprising an endless length of: woven tape consisting essentially of a spun synthetic polyamide having its ends overlapped and joined together by a strip of synthetic polyamide fused to the overlapping portions of said tape whereby variations in spindle speed are substantially reduced and high uniformity of twist in the product is obtained with capacity for higher speed and relatively low power consumption.

2. In a spinning or doubling machine the combination of a plurality of spindles mounted for rotation on spaced parallel axes, each spindle having a driving pulley disposed concentrically with respect to its axis for rotating said spindle, all of such driving pulleys being aligned in a common plane perpendicular to said axes, an endless tape consisting essentially of woven synthetic polyamide being disposed partially around and in driving contact with each of said pulleys and in straight flights between adjacent pulleys to form a driving tape for said spindles, said tape having its ends overlapped and joined together by a strip of synthetic polyamide fused to the overlapping portions of said tape, and a driving cylinder in driving contact with said tape whereby variations. in spindle speed are substantially reduced and high uniformity of twist in the product is obtained with capacity for higher speed and relatively low power consumption.

3. In a spinning or doubling machine the combination of a plurality of spindles mounted for rotation on spaced parallel axes, each spindle having a driving pulley disposed concentrically wtih respect to its axis-for rotating said spindle, all of such driving pulleys being aligned in a common plane perpendicular to said axes, an endless tape consisting essentially of woven synthetic polyamide being disposed partially around and in driving contact with each of said pulleys and in straight flights between adjacent pulleys to form a driving tape for said spindles, said tape having its ends overlapped and bonded together in a flexible joint by a strip of synthetic polyamide of a lower melting point than that of said tape, fused between and adhered to such overlapping ends, whereby the polyamide of said overlapping ends is undegraded, and a, driving cylinder in driving contact with said tape whereby variations in spindle speed are substantially reduced and high uniformity of twist in the product is obtained with capacity for higher speed and relatively low power consumption.

4. In a spinning or doubling machine, characterized by low variations in spindle speed and high uniformity of twist in the product thereof with capacity for higher speed and relatively low power consumption, thecombination of a plurality of spindles mounted for rotation on spaced parallel axes, each spindle having a driving pulley dis-.

posed concentrically with respect to its axis for rotating said spindle, all of such driving pulleys bein aligned in a common plane perpendicular to said axes, an endless tape consisting essentially of woven synthetic polyamide being disposed partially around and in driving contact with each of said pulleys and in straight flights between adjacent pulleys to form a driving tape for said spindles, said tape having its ends overlapped and joined together by a strip of synthetic polyamide fused to the overlapping portions of said tape, and a driving cylinder in driving contact with said tape.

5. In a spinning or doubling machine, characterized by low variations in spindle speed and high uniformity of twist in the product thereof with capacity for higher speed and relatively low power consumption, the combination of a plurality of spindles mounted for rotation on spaced parallel axes, each spindle having a driving pulley disposed concentrically with respect to its: axis for rotating said spindle, all of such driving pulleys being aligned in a common plane perpendicular to said. axes, an endless tape consisting essentially of Woven synthetic polyamide being disposed partially around and in driving contact with each of said pulleys and in straight flights between adjacent pulleys to form a driving tape for said spindles, said tape having its ends overlapped and bonded together in a flexible joint by a strip of synthetic polyamide of a lower melting point than that of said tape, fused between and adhered to such overlapping ends, whereby the polyamide of said overlapping ends is undegraded, and a driving cylinder in driving contact with said tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Bacon et a1 Oct. 18, 1949 Platt Jan. 31, 1950 Custer June 13, 1950 Reinhard Aug. 4, 1953 Gentle et a1. Sept. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Oct. 14, 1953 Great Britain Nov. 7, 1945 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1951 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1953 

